Microbial life beyond the grave: 16S rRNA gene-based metagenomic analysis of bacteria diversity and their functional profiles in cemetery environments

Abia, Akebe Luther King; Alisoltani, Arghavan; Ubomba-Jaswa, Eunice; Dippenaar, Matthys Alois

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.302

Cited by 42 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Our results of low BOD results are in consonance with the results found in the Domini Max II cemetery, in the Belem region in Para State [39] and the contemporary cemetery at da Paz in Sao Paulo [40]. Abia et al (2018) [41] reported that surface soils up to 2m, contained a high level of human disease functional group; antibiotic and resistance and drug synthesis signatures were also present and identified in the samples.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

Contamination Assessment of Underground Water Around a Cemetery: Case study of Ayobo cemetery in Lagos, Nigeria

Egbimhanlu¹,

Sophia²,

Korede³

et al. 2020

International Journal of Engineering Research and Technology

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Water quality monitoring is essential for continual availability of safe water for both domestic and industrial use. This work serves to identify potential risks from underground water sources sited around burial sites and also, to provide the initial data on the impact of such toxins on the water quality and the environment. Samples from 9 points (7 bore hole outlet and 2 dug wells) were taken within 500 metres circumference from Ayobo cemetery in Lagos, Nigeria and analysed for their physico-chemical properties using standard procedures. Results revealed that samples majorly had high salinity (5.5 ± 1.9), slightly acidic pH values (5.23 ± 0.94) and significantly elevated lead concentrations (0.63 ± 0.27) among the parameters measured. This acidity makes the water more vulnerable to metals dissolving in it. It is unclear if the sources of the salts are from the soil itself and/or compounds used for preparing the corpse for burial or the metal fittings and paints used in the finishing of the caskets being contributory to the lead contamination. This work forms the initial water quality for the Ayobo axis but more work is recommended to ascertain the precise source of these contaminants while initial water quality assessment should be carried out and documented before future cemeteries are sited. A regular monitoring and the use of buffers to neutralize the acidic water are recommended.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

Contamination Assessment of Underground Water Around a Cemetery: Case study of Ayobo cemetery in Lagos, Nigeria

Egbimhanlu¹,

Sophia²,

Korede³

et al. 2020

International Journal of Engineering Research and Technology

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“…For example, AR in wastewater and drinking water systems, and even soils has attracted significant research attention, as evidenced by several research articles, including reviews ( Gwenzi et al, 2018 ; Sanganyado and Gwenzi, 2019 ). By contrast, only a handful of papers are available on AR in the whole funeral industry, spanning several compartments, including autopsy, thanatopraxy and cemeteries ( Carstens, 2012 ; Carstens et al, 2014 ; Abia et al, 2018 , Abia et al, 2019 ). Yet similar to AR in the funeral industry, quantitative data directly linked the occurrence of AR in wastewaters and drinking water to human health risks are scarce.…”

Section: The Funeral Industry As a Potential Ar Hotspotmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pharmaceuticals, antibiotics and inorganic contaminants have been detected in environmental media from cemeteries, including surface water and groundwater ( Carstens, 2012 ; Carstens et al, 2014 ; Paíga and Delerue-Matos, 2016 ; Fiedler et al, 2018 ; Abia et al, 2018 , Abia et al, 2019 ). Pharmaceuticals, nutrients and trace metals are well-known for inducing and co-selecting for the emergence of antibiotic resistance ( Knapp et al, 2016 ; Zhao et al, 2017 ).…”

Section: The ‘ Thanato-resistome ’mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Subsequent studies, including reviews, investigated the contribution of cemeteries to inorganic and microbial pollution ( Spongberg and Becks, 2000 ; Żychowski, 2012 ; Żychowski and Bryndal, 2015 ; Vaezihir and Mohammadi, 2016 ; Van Allemann et al, 2019 ; Silva et al, 2020 ). Recently, an increasing body of evidence has reported the occurrence of pharmaceuticals, antibiotic resistant bacteria and their resistance genes in environmental media from cemeteries ( Carstens, 2012 ; Carstens et al, 2014 ; Fiedler et al, 2018 ; Abia et al, 2018 , Abia et al, 2019 ). However, comprehensive reviews on antibiotic resistance in the funeral industry, including thanatopraxy care and cemeteries are still lacking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The ‘thanato-resistome’ - The funeral industry as a potential reservoir of antibiotic resistance: Early insights and perspectives

Gwenzi

2020

Science of The Total Environment

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The funeral industry is a potential reservoir of antibiotic resistance. The occurrence, human exposure and health risks of antibiotic resistance in the funeral industry were examined. The funeral industry harbours antibiotic resistance to multiple common and last-resort antibiotics, hence constitutes the ‘ thanato-resistome ’. Hydrological processes, air-borne particulates and vectors disseminate antibiotic resistance, while horizontal gene transfer circulates antibiotic resistance among resistomes, forming a complex network. Ingestion, inhalation of air-borne particulates, dermal intake and clothes of workers contribute to human exposure. Human health risks include; development of drug resistance in previously susceptible pathogens, and increased morbidity and mortality caused by increased pathogenicity and outbreaks of multi-drug resistant infections. Ecological risks include the proliferation of resistant organisms at the expense of susceptible ones, thereby disrupting ecosystem structure and function, including biogeochemical cycles. Barring inferential data, quantitative evidence linking antibiotic resistance to human infections is weak. This reflects the lack of systematic quantitative studies, rather than the absence of such health risks. Quantitative risk assessment is constrained by lack of quantitative data on antibiotic resistance in various reservoirs and exposure routes. A framework for risk assessment and mitigation is proposed. Finally, ten hypotheses and emerging tools such as genomics, in silico techniques and big data analytics are highlighted.

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“…Respecto a la microbiota de los Necrosoles, en los diferentes horizontes de suelo de necrópolis urbanas, encuentran patógenos bacterianos como: Enterococcus spp., Bacillus spp., Clostridium perfrigens, E. coli, Pseudomonas, Corynebacterium, Rhodococcus, Prauserella, Staphylococcus y fúngicos como: Penicillium spp. y Aspergillus spp [22][23][24][25].…”

Section: Propiedades Microbiológicasunclassified

Estudio de Necrosoles y suelos de cementerio

Vélez

Gallo

Monsalve

et al. 2019

DYNA

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Este artículo muestra las aproximaciones interdisciplinarias que integran conocimientos respecto a los suelos de cementerios contemporáneos y antiguos e inhumaciones clandestinas que producen interés científico bio-geo-arqueológico, forense reciente, lo anterior es lo que compila el estudio de los Necrosoles. Las investigaciones al respecto, plantean interrogantes pedogenéticos, antropogénicos, morfológicos, de características físico-químicas y microbiológicas. Así los Necrosoles se definen con precisión e incluyen en propuestas para sistemas taxonómicos locales y mundiales. Los suelos de los cementerios tienen propiedades físico-químicas y microbiológicas variables, antrópicas, temporalidades e insumos orgánicos e inorgánicos exógenos y predominancia de procesos de cambio ambiental. Actualmente, las necrópolis en las urbes y la proximidad a fuentes de agua e impactos de estos suelos en la salud pública y ambiente, se evalúan en investigaciones científicas. También aumenta el interés por las características de entierros ilegales de cuerpos humanos e integración de herramientas pedológicas y forenses. Revisamos los estudios de Necrosoles y el desarrollo de la investigación científica experimental ligada a efectos e implicaciones de entierros humanos

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Microbial life beyond the grave: 16S rRNA gene-based metagenomic analysis of bacteria diversity and their functional profiles in cemetery environments

Cited by 42 publications

References 55 publications

Contamination Assessment of Underground Water Around a Cemetery: Case study of Ayobo cemetery in Lagos, Nigeria

Contamination Assessment of Underground Water Around a Cemetery: Case study of Ayobo cemetery in Lagos, Nigeria

The ‘thanato-resistome’ - The funeral industry as a potential reservoir of antibiotic resistance: Early insights and perspectives

Estudio de Necrosoles y suelos de cementerio

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